http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/
Mike Maddock - The Idea Monkey - ForbesMike Maddock's stories. The Idea Monkey: I write about innovation and solving problems with disruptive ideas.http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d4f92cb25340a7abba64da19c1e08a97?s=400&amp;d=http%3A%2F%2F1.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D400&amp;r=Ghttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/02/27/a-leadership-wish-eddie-murphy-please-host-snl/
A Leadership Wish: Eddie Murphy Please Host SNLThis article is about what happens when you decide to reengage with your natural gifts that shined brightly when you were young.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/02/27/a-leadership-wish-eddie-murphy-please-host-snl/Fri, 27 Feb 2015 11:24:00 -0500This article is about what happens when you decide to reengage with your natural gifts that shined brightly when you were young.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/02/18/why-just-about-every-single-head-of-innovation-including-me-should-be-fired/
Why Just About Every Single Head of Innovation -- Including Me -- Should Be FiredNo matter how aggressive we are being, we aren’t being aggressive enough.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/02/18/why-just-about-every-single-head-of-innovation-including-me-should-be-fired/Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:14:00 -0500No matter how aggressive we are being, we aren’t being aggressive enough.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/02/11/how-innovation-helped-save-a-company/
How Innovation Helped Save A CompanyIndustry and economic downturns represent golden opportunities for leaders to double down on their strategies, particularly when they involve creating new products and services.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/02/11/how-innovation-helped-save-a-company/Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:18:00 -0500Industry and economic downturns represent golden opportunities for leaders to double down on their strategies, particularly when they involve creating new products and services.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/01/07/has-sale-become-a-four-letter-word/
Has 'Sale' Become A Four-Letter Word?For as long as most of us can remember, price was an easy, albeit painful, lever to pull for retailers facing declining traffic or stiff competition. Cutting prices appealed to consumers, was easy to implement, and could affect behavior (thus changing revenue numbers immediately). Today it is a short-term strategy that is working less and less often and becoming a Band-Aid with often fatal implications.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2015/01/07/has-sale-become-a-four-letter-word/Wed, 7 Jan 2015 10:29:00 -0500For as long as most of us can remember, price was an easy, albeit painful, lever to pull for retailers facing declining traffic or stiff competition. Cutting prices appealed to consumers, was easy to implement, and could affect behavior (thus changing revenue numbers immediately). Today it is a short-term strategy that is working less and less often and becoming a Band-Aid with often fatal implications.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/12/29/five-wishes-every-ceo-wants-for-the-new-year/
Five Wishes Every CEO Wants For The New YearHow the best CEOs make these wishes come trueMike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/12/29/five-wishes-every-ceo-wants-for-the-new-year/Mon, 29 Dec 2014 14:23:00 -0500How the best CEOs make these wishes come truehttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/12/09/is-holiday-shopping-a-canary-in-the-coal-mine-for-retailers/
Is Holiday Shopping A Canary In The Coal Mine For Retailers?What do you do when the bird stops singing? Well into the 20th century, miners used canaries as a way to detect methane and carbon monoxide in mines. As long as a canary was singing, all was well. If a canary died, it was time to abandon the mine immediately. It [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/12/09/is-holiday-shopping-a-canary-in-the-coal-mine-for-retailers/Tue, 9 Dec 2014 17:02:00 -0500What do you do when the bird stops singing? Well into the 20th century, miners used canaries as a way to detect methane and carbon monoxide in mines. As long as a canary was singing, all was well. If a canary died, it was time to abandon the mine immediately. It [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/11/26/why-sean-hannity-cant-innovate/
Why Sean Hannity Can't Innovate…and Rachel Maddow is in the same boat I’ll admit to not being too political. In fact, I had to spend quite a bit of time on sites like PolitiFact.com just to make sure I wasn’t imagining something that everyone else knows is true: The right and the left find ways [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/11/26/why-sean-hannity-cant-innovate/Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:39:00 -0500…and Rachel Maddow is in the same boat I’ll admit to not being too political. In fact, I had to spend quite a bit of time on sites like PolitiFact.com just to make sure I wasn’t imagining something that everyone else knows is true: The right and the left find ways [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/11/14/why-your-company-keeps-killing-big-ideas/
Why Your Company Keeps Killing Big IdeasJust after speaking at a conference last week, I was approached by a gentleman who introduced himself as a “newly minted and incredibly afraid chief innovation officer.” He had started as many of us do, with big ideas about how to shake up the company but had been snubbed at every turn. Now, even his boss was looking the other way when he saw him coming. He asked me, in essence, “What gives?”Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/11/14/why-your-company-keeps-killing-big-ideas/Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:51:00 -0500Just after speaking at a conference last week, I was approached by a gentleman who introduced himself as a “newly minted and incredibly afraid chief innovation officer.” He had started as many of us do, with big ideas about how to shake up the company but had been snubbed at every turn. Now, even his boss was looking the other way when he saw him coming. He asked me, in essence, “What gives?”http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/10/28/when-the-shift-hits-the-fan/
When The Shift Hits The FanThere comes a time in every business when it becomes apparent that your product, service or business model is no longer relevant. How do you know that moment is at hand?Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/10/28/when-the-shift-hits-the-fan/Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:58:00 -0400There comes a time in every business when it becomes apparent that your product, service or business model is no longer relevant. How do you know that moment is at hand?http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/10/03/so-the-boss-says-to-innovate/
What To Do When Your Boss Says It's Time To InnovateMastering innovation creates higher margins, more engaged teams, more satisfied customers, higher stock valuations and, in the best cases, a tribe of intensely engaged customers. Unfortunately, saying you are innovative before you actually have a culture that knows how to be so–and produces work that truly is—is incredibly destructive because you wind up breaking promises with your staff and with your customers. How can you avoid becoming a statistic? Let me give you four ideas.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/10/03/so-the-boss-says-to-innovate/Fri, 3 Oct 2014 12:23:00 -0400Mastering innovation creates higher margins, more engaged teams, more satisfied customers, higher stock valuations and, in the best cases, a tribe of intensely engaged customers. Unfortunately, saying you are innovative before you actually have a culture that knows how to be so–and produces work that truly is—is incredibly destructive because you wind up breaking promises with your staff and with your customers. How can you avoid becoming a statistic? Let me give you four ideas.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/09/24/why-you-need-an-innovation-portfolio/
Why You Need An Innovation PortfolioA Billion-Dollar Lesson From An Unlikely Suspect As the financial markets crashed, CNBC's Erin Burnett and the late Mark Haines pressed me during Squawk Box to name a sector that would benefit immediately from focusing on innovation. Financial services, I responded without hesitation. Since the interview, the world has seen a plethora of new [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/09/24/why-you-need-an-innovation-portfolio/Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:47:00 -0400A Billion-Dollar Lesson From An Unlikely Suspect As the financial markets crashed, CNBC's Erin Burnett and the late Mark Haines pressed me during Squawk Box to name a sector that would benefit immediately from focusing on innovation. Financial services, I responded without hesitation. Since the interview, the world has seen a plethora of new [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/09/02/why-60-is-the-new-30/
Why 60 Is The New 30I’m happy to report that the rumors are true. At least when it comes to business, 60 has become the new 30. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to review nearly 200 start-up companies seeking money, business strategy or empowering connections. Some of these companies are being run by young adults barely out of school, some by not-so-young adults—the aforementioned hinted at 60-year-olds—who are literally starting over when our grandparents would be strolling around golf communities in Florida.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/09/02/why-60-is-the-new-30/Tue, 2 Sep 2014 14:27:00 -0400I’m happy to report that the rumors are true. At least when it comes to business, 60 has become the new 30. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to review nearly 200 start-up companies seeking money, business strategy or empowering connections. Some of these companies are being run by young adults barely out of school, some by not-so-young adults—the aforementioned hinted at 60-year-olds—who are literally starting over when our grandparents would be strolling around golf communities in Florida.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/08/13/the-secret-weapon-of-the-most-inventive-minds/
The Secret Weapon Of The Most Inventive MindsA Critical Lesson From The Most Successful Entrepreneurs Here are three quick questions. See if you can spot what they have in common. Why did Howard Schultz focus on the coffee experience when his peers were trying to find cheaper, better-tasting beans? Why did Sara Blakely come up with Spanx when her job [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/08/13/the-secret-weapon-of-the-most-inventive-minds/Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:05:00 -0400A Critical Lesson From The Most Successful Entrepreneurs Here are three quick questions. See if you can spot what they have in common. Why did Howard Schultz focus on the coffee experience when his peers were trying to find cheaper, better-tasting beans? Why did Sara Blakely come up with Spanx when her job [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/08/04/is-government-good-or-bad-for-innovation/
Innovation Nation?Is Your Government Good Or Bad For Innovation? I know. I know. How could I even suggest government could be remotely helpful when it comes to innovation? Just consider the most frustrating experience you’ve had with government. If you are like most entrepreneurs, you have quite a list from which to choose. Let [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/08/04/is-government-good-or-bad-for-innovation/Mon, 4 Aug 2014 09:23:00 -0400Is Your Government Good Or Bad For Innovation? I know. I know. How could I even suggest government could be remotely helpful when it comes to innovation? Just consider the most frustrating experience you’ve had with government. If you are like most entrepreneurs, you have quite a list from which to choose. Let [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/06/23/the-only-way-great-change-happens/
The Only Way Great Change HappensHere’s how to know things are about to change—dramatically. I was in an advisory board meeting yesterday with eight of the smartest, most successful people I know. We were going over a specific strategy that I was trying to make work for my company with little success. The initiative had stalled [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/06/23/the-only-way-great-change-happens/Mon, 23 Jun 2014 11:08:00 -0400Here’s how to know things are about to change—dramatically. I was in an advisory board meeting yesterday with eight of the smartest, most successful people I know. We were going over a specific strategy that I was trying to make work for my company with little success. The initiative had stalled [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/05/15/how-the-best-leaders-set-context/
How The Best Leaders Set ContextThe Way You Start A Conversation May Determine The Outcome You Get Imagine being part of this interaction. You walk into the kitchen holding the checkbook. Your spouse is preparing dinner and you ask, “What’s this check for $300 you wrote last Thursday?” Impatient for answers, you glance down at the check register [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/05/15/how-the-best-leaders-set-context/Thu, 15 May 2014 08:44:00 -0400The Way You Start A Conversation May Determine The Outcome You Get Imagine being part of this interaction. You walk into the kitchen holding the checkbook. Your spouse is preparing dinner and you ask, “What’s this check for $300 you wrote last Thursday?” Impatient for answers, you glance down at the check register [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/05/06/how-being-really-bad-is-really-great-for-business/
How Being Really Bad Is Really Great For BusinessThe Often Missed Secret Of The Best BrandsMike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/05/06/how-being-really-bad-is-really-great-for-business/Tue, 6 May 2014 10:19:00 -0400The Often Missed Secret Of The Best Brandshttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/04/11/making-tough-decisions-under-pressure/
Making Tough Decisions Under PressureHow the best leaders make the toughest decisions—when it matters most.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/04/11/making-tough-decisions-under-pressure/Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:10:00 -0400How the best leaders make the toughest decisions—when it matters most.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/03/18/why-does-my-boss-hate-me/
Why Does My Boss Hate Me?Three things your boss would rather fire you for than tell you about.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/03/18/why-does-my-boss-hate-me/Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:37:00 -0400Three things your boss would rather fire you for than tell you about.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/02/12/the-greatest-innovation-in-u-s-olympic-history-will-surprise-you-and-could-get-you-to-rethink-your-business/
How Olympic Innovation Can Help You Rethink Your BusinessHow the Olympics are shining a light on an innovation that will change industries. So what is the greatest innovation in U.S. Olympic history and why should you care? Well, the innovation is not the BMW-designed USA bobsled, instantaneous video replays on iPads, or Shaun White’s new “Frontside Double Cork 1440” in [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/02/12/the-greatest-innovation-in-u-s-olympic-history-will-surprise-you-and-could-get-you-to-rethink-your-business/Wed, 12 Feb 2014 10:03:00 -0500How the Olympics are shining a light on an innovation that will change industries. So what is the greatest innovation in U.S. Olympic history and why should you care? Well, the innovation is not the BMW-designed USA bobsled, instantaneous video replays on iPads, or Shaun White’s new “Frontside Double Cork 1440” in [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/01/29/a-simple-question-that-will-positively-change-your-business-life/
A Simple Question That Will Positively Change Your (Business) Life“Grow where you are planted.” —Mother Theresa I recently received a really nice phone call from a former client. The last time we talked was a few years back when she asked me to lunch to discuss her career. This call was to thank me for the outcome of that conversation. When we [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/01/29/a-simple-question-that-will-positively-change-your-business-life/Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:45:00 -0500“Grow where you are planted.” —Mother Theresa I recently received a really nice phone call from a former client. The last time we talked was a few years back when she asked me to lunch to discuss her career. This call was to thank me for the outcome of that conversation. When we [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/01/21/driving-change-would-you-be-a-successful-chief-innovation-officer/
Driving Change: Would You Be A Successful Chief Innovation Officer?Is the “CInO” title in Your Future? Should it be? Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. —Steve Jobs Do you think Jobs was talking about companies or people? After two decades of working with famously innovative people and companies, I believe he was talking about both. Can you empower next? If you are [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2014/01/21/driving-change-would-you-be-a-successful-chief-innovation-officer/Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:39:00 -0500Is the “CInO” title in Your Future? Should it be? Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. —Steve Jobs Do you think Jobs was talking about companies or people? After two decades of working with famously innovative people and companies, I believe he was talking about both. Can you empower next? If you are [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/12/13/is-it-too-late-to-reinvent-our-universities/
Is It Too Late To Reinvent Our Universities? Scholarship? No Thanks. If you were offered a healthy scholarship that still left you with five figures worth of debt at graduation along with slim prospects of getting a job capable of paying off the loan anytime soon, would you take it? Apparently, the answer is increasingly “nope.” And that, in a [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/12/13/is-it-too-late-to-reinvent-our-universities/Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:17:00 -0500 Scholarship? No Thanks. If you were offered a healthy scholarship that still left you with five figures worth of debt at graduation along with slim prospects of getting a job capable of paying off the loan anytime soon, would you take it? Apparently, the answer is increasingly “nope.” And that, in a [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/11/26/three-ways-great-leaders-handle-great-adversity/
Three Ways Great Leaders Handle Great AdversityHow do great leaders play the bad cards they are dealt? Here are three techniques I’ve seen my most resilient mentors use successfully when faced with a bad hand.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/11/26/three-ways-great-leaders-handle-great-adversity/Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:04:00 -0500How do great leaders play the bad cards they are dealt? Here are three techniques I’ve seen my most resilient mentors use successfully when faced with a bad hand.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/11/19/how-to-know-if-you-will-like-entrepreneurship/
Were You Born to be an Entrepreneur?In an effort to save and/or encourage you to jump into the choppy waters of entrepreneurship, here are three telltale signs that you are made for the entrepreneurial journey.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/11/19/how-to-know-if-you-will-like-entrepreneurship/Tue, 19 Nov 2013 10:49:00 -0500In an effort to save and/or encourage you to jump into the choppy waters of entrepreneurship, here are three telltale signs that you are made for the entrepreneurial journey.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/25/agility-the-new-currency-of-growth/
Agility: The New Currency of GrowthEnlightened leaders are busy building faster, more fearless and more customer-focused cultures because they understand that agility matters more than money, more than size and even more than past success. Here are three reasons why and some tips from the world of agile innovation.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/25/agility-the-new-currency-of-growth/Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:44:00 -0400Enlightened leaders are busy building faster, more fearless and more customer-focused cultures because they understand that agility matters more than money, more than size and even more than past success. Here are three reasons why and some tips from the world of agile innovation.http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/16/how-to-see-more-productive-smiles-at-work/
How To See More Productive Smiles At WorkThree Simple Techniques To Create A Better Culture Imagine going to the doctor for a series of expensive tests. Weeks after the pricking, prodding and embarrassing questions are over, she asks you to come back to her office for a private readout of your results. You’re told things don’t look so [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/16/how-to-see-more-productive-smiles-at-work/Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:05:00 -0400Three Simple Techniques To Create A Better Culture Imagine going to the doctor for a series of expensive tests. Weeks after the pricking, prodding and embarrassing questions are over, she asks you to come back to her office for a private readout of your results. You’re told things don’t look so [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/08/does-your-culture-promote-or-prevent-inventive-thinking/
Does Your Culture Promote Or Prevent Inventive Thinking?What The Leaders Of Great Countries And Companies Know About The Entrepreneurial Mindset Do you think your company culture is more like Israel, America or North Korea? More important, are your teammates willing to say what they really think is the answer to that question, or are they afraid of being [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/08/does-your-culture-promote-or-prevent-inventive-thinking/Tue, 8 Oct 2013 13:20:00 -0400What The Leaders Of Great Countries And Companies Know About The Entrepreneurial Mindset Do you think your company culture is more like Israel, America or North Korea? More important, are your teammates willing to say what they really think is the answer to that question, or are they afraid of being [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/01/health-care-the-art-of-retention/
A One-Two Punch for Health Care?Three New Conversations that Need to be Happening Right Now President Obama announced recently that things were about to get better for all Americans seeking affordable health care. While many debate the cost of his plan and whether it will work as he says it will, one thing is not debatable: [...]Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/10/01/health-care-the-art-of-retention/Tue, 1 Oct 2013 15:08:00 -0400Three New Conversations that Need to be Happening Right Now President Obama announced recently that things were about to get better for all Americans seeking affordable health care. While many debate the cost of his plan and whether it will work as he says it will, one thing is not debatable: [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/09/25/why-americans-make-the-best-entrepreneurs-for-now/
Why Americans Make The Best Entrepreneurs...For NowAt least three important factors separate the best from the rest.Mike Maddock, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemaddock/2013/09/25/why-americans-make-the-best-entrepreneurs-for-now/Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:00:00 -0400At least three important factors separate the best from the rest.